Drapery hook



May 30, 1967 Filed March 3l, 1965 J. v. GRABER BZLSM DRAPERY HOOK 2 Sheets-Sheet l me @va/mw, "L a May 30, 1967 J. V. GRABER 3,321,814

DRAPERY HOOK Filed March 3l, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Oiiice Patented May 30, i967 3,32L8l4- DRAPERY HK Joseph V. Grab-er, Madison, Wis., assigner to Graber lylanufacturing Company, Inc., itfiliddletou, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin iiiied Mar. 31, i965, Ser. No. 444,270 9 Ciaims. (Cl. 24M-34B This invention relates to supports for draperies, curtains and the like and more particularly to an adjustable support capable of selectively varying the height of a drapery, curtain, etc. to control the length or evenness of hang thereof Without necessitating removal of the support from either the rod or carrier, or from the drapery or curtain.

Heretofore, several adjustable supports have been developed for adjusting the height of a drapery relative to the rod or carrier. Some of these adjustable supports have provided for adjustment to be ellected after the drapery is hung, and have allowed such adjustment to be made from the front of the drapery by pulling on the drapery support and drapery in an area adjacent the support. Problems however have been encountered in adjusting the supports equally well in both directions, i.e. up and down. For example, many of the latter supports readily allow upward adjustment from the front of a drapery after it is hung. lf the housewife over-adjusts the drapery, however, it is frequently necessary in downward adjustment to use both hands, one on the drapery in an area adjacent the support and the other behind the drapery on the hook portion ofthe adjustable support. The sarne problem exists if the initial position of the adjustable support places the drapery too high and a downward adjustment is necessary, for example.

lt is an important object of this invention, therefore, to obviate the above problem and to provide an adjustable support for items such as draperies, curtains, and the like which may be easily adjusted in either direction from the front of the item by one hand of the user to vary the height of the item supported thereby.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable support which can be easily manipulated for adjusting the height of draperies, curtains, or the like in either direction without removal from either the rod or carrier, or from the drapery or curtain.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable support for draperies and curtains which is adaptable for attachments to slides or carriers of traverse rods or for direct attachment to ordinary rods.

A still further object is to provide an adjustable support for draperies and curtains which is adaptable for direct attachment to ordinary rods and which has a minimum of depth so that the drapery or curtain will lie closely adjacent to the rod.

Several previous adjustable supports have utilized a hook portion of plastic material such as nylon. Since many windows have heating outlets beneath or adjacent thereto, supports for draperies or curtains over such windows are subjected to the heat dispensed. Said heat becomes concentrated near the ceiling of a room and this has, in some circumstances, caused adverse elects on the plastic hooks with resulting sag of the draperies. Under these conditions, the plastic hooks have occasionally ruptured and allowed the draperies to fall. Sun beating through a window can have a similar undesirable result.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an adjustable support construction which can be easily and economically fabricated of a material not adversely affected by heat.

A further object is to provide an adjustable support for draperies and curtains which is of uncomplicated construction, durable, and long-lived.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

lIGlIRE 1 is a rear view of an adjustable support which is the embodiment of this invention and showing the support in actual size;

FIG. 2 is side view of the adjustable support shown in actual size;

FIG. 3 is a front View of the in actual size;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view portion of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side View of the hook apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged rear View of the hook apparatus;

FiG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the ernbodiment ot this invention attached to a traverse rod by means of a slide or carrier and illustrating an alternative type of apparatus for attachment to a drapery;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the adjustable support attached directly to .a rod; and

FlG. 9 is au enlarged fragmentary side view of the adjustable support and illustrating a disengaged position of the hook apparatus whereby the hook apparatus may be selectively adjusted to any keeper on the leg.

Referring further to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, it can be seen that the adjustable support or hanger, in its preferred form, comprises two separate pieces. These pieces are an attachment apparatus, or drapery receiving member, generaily designated by the numeral i0, and a hook apparatus, generally designated by the numeral 3d. .For convenience, the adjustable Support of the present invention may be hereinafter sometimes referred to in conjunction with a drapery and drapery rod; however, this will be done by way of illustration and it should be understood that the adjustable support may be lused with any type of drapery, curtain, tapestry, or other hanging and the rods or supports used therewith.

The attachment apparatus ld comprises a generally elongated leg l1 and a drapery engaging pin portion l2. The leg has keeper means for engaging and keeping the hook apparatus 3d at selectively adjustable positions thereon and, in its preferred form, the keeper means is a plurality of spaced holes 13 as best shown in FlG. 1. The leg 11 conveniently has its upper end M bent slightly to the rear, away from the drapery engaging portion 12 as seen in FIG. 2, to allow the drapery engaging portion to be more easily attached to a drapery. The lower end 16 of the drapery engaging portion 12 is conveniently attached to the lower end of leg il. This attachment may be made by means of a weld Ztl or any other convenient manner. Leg l1 and drapery engaging portion l2 are preferably spaced from each other in an area adjacent the lower ends thereof. This may be accomplished by providing an offset or bent portion in either the leg 11 or drapery engaging portion 12 or both, or any other convenient manner. The drapery engaging portion illustrated in FIGS. l-3 is of the slip-in type and is in the shape of upwardly extending fingers i7 and i7 which are preferably spaced from the leg il at intermediate point l (FIG. 2). The fingers i7 and 17 conveniently slope toward each other and toward the leg l1 to provide a restriction 19 for snugly holding the pleat of a drapery. The upper ends l5 and 15 of the lingers are conveniently spaced from each other and away from the restriction 19 to provide an opening for receiving a drapery pleat.

An alternative type of drapery engaging portion is illustrated in FIG. 7. This alternate drapery engaging portion, generally designated by the numeral ma is of the pin type and has its lower end 16a attached to the lower adjustable support shown of the hook apparatus end of the leg 11 by means of a weld 20a or other convenient means. An intermediate point 18a is spaced from the leg and the finger 17a slopes toward the upper end of the leg to provide a restriction 19u. The upper end 15a' of the pin is pointed to allow easy insertion into a pleat of a drapery. While there has been illustrated two preferr'ed forms of means for l attaching to a drapery, it should be understood Vthat lother means of attaching may be utilized a's will be readily obvious to those skilled in the art.

salient feature of the present invention is the structure of the hook apparatus which is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 4-6. The hook apparatus has a body portion 31 which preferably has a width approximating the width of the leg 11. The body has means for slidably mounting the hook apparatus on the leg, and as shown, is preferably in the form of a pair of clasps 32 and 32 which are attached to the body *by means of legs 33 and 33. As best shown in FIGS. 7--9, the lower edge 34 of the body 31 is adapted to lie generally contiguous to the leg 11. The clasps 32. and 32 clasp the front side of the leg and slidably mount the hook apparatus on the leg. The body 31 preferably has a relieved portion adjacent the lower end thereof and intermediate the legs 33 and 33 to allow the body to clear any burrs around holes 13 or other obstruction on the leg 11. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the relieved portion is preferably achieved by a cut-out in the llower end of the body and provides a relieved edge 35 which is spaced from the leg 11 when the hook apparatus is slidably mounted thereon. It should be understood that other means may be used to obtain a relieved portion on the body such as deforming the lower edge 34 away from the leg 11 to provide a ski to glide over burrs etc.; thus the foregoing should be considered only as an example of a type of relieved portion on the body. Attached to the upper end of the body 31 is a neck portion 36 which is preferably of lesser width than the body 31. In its preferred form, the neck 36 is deformed in a direction toward the front of the leg 11 and is constructed of a resilient material, preferably steel. When the hook apparatus is slidably mounted on the leg, this deformation will provide pressure points against the leg at the bottom 34 of the body and the top 37 of the neck on the back side of the leg, and at the point of the clasps 32 and 32 on the front side of the leg. A latch is attached to the neck 36 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, but preferably adjacent its upper end. The upper portion 37 of the neck is preferably widened as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to conveniently provide an area whereby the latch 40 may be formed by stamping during its manufacture. An outwardly extending arm 42 is attached to the upper end 37 of the neck. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the arm is preferably U-shaped in cross-section to give it added rigidity. The outwardly extending arm also preferably rises upwardly from the neck portion at an angle great enough so that when the latch 40 is disengaged from the keeper 13, the angle A between the arm and the upper portion of the leg 11 will be approximately 90, but preferably not greater than 90, as best shown in FIG. 9. A depending hook portion 45 is attached to the outer end of the ar-m 42 and creates a well defined ljuncture 44 with the arm. An upper portion 46 of the hook extends downwardly and slightly outwardly from the juncture 44. An intermediate portion 47 extends downwardly from the upper portion and slightly inwardly. Thus the bottom of the intermediate portion is spaced closer to the neck 36 than is the top of said portion. Attached t0 the bottom of the intermediate portion is a lower portion 48 which extends outwardly and downwardly. The various portions of the depending hook 45 are preferably made of steel or other resilient metal and formed with a U-shaped cross-section similar to the Section of the arm 42. The particular advantage of shape of the hook will be described infra.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown the adjustable support attached to the traverse rod Sil by means ofa slide or carrier 52. Both the rod and the carrier may be of any convenient kind well known in the art and further description of the details is deemed unnecessary. The hook apparatus 30 attaches to the carrier 52 through an eye 53 in the carrier. Due to the upward angle of the arm 42, and the depending angle of the upper portion 46 of the hook 45, the hook apparatus will rest in the eye S3 at the point of the juncture 44. Due to the particular shape of the hook apparatus, as described supra, the adjustable support will always rest in a ca'r'rier at this point. When the weight of a drapery (not shown) is applied to the adjustable support, the attachment apparatus 10 will tend to rest in a more vertical position. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the hook apparatus 3d is inserted into the eye 53` in a direction illustrated by the arrow 22. The shape of the lower portion 48 of the depending hook 45 aids in this endeavor. It can be seen that the direction of the arrow 22 is substantially parallel to the lower portion 48 of the hook. Thus, when the lower portion 48 is moved toward the eye for insertion, it is pointing toward the eye and moving straight at it, thus exposing the minimum cross-sectional area for threading the eye. The particular shape of the hook portion, therefore, allows the user to easily insert the hook into the eye and to be certain that it will rest at an advantageous position.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated the use of the adjustable support on a rod without the use of a carrier. The rod illustrated is an oval rod 55; however, it should be understood that the adjustable support can be used in the manner to be described on rods other than an oval type, e.g. circular rods. The hook apparatus 30 is inserted on the rod 55 in the direction indicated by arrow 24. The lower portion 4S of the hook 45 will first engage the upper back side of the rod 55. As the adjustable support is brought further downward, the lower portion 48 rides outwardly until intermediate portion 4'7 is in a generally vertical position to engage the back side of the rod 55, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The particular advantage of having the neck 36 extend from the top side of the body 31 is best indicated here. In this manner, there is a smooth transition from the body 31 to the neck 36 allowing the rOd 55 to be easily inserted between the neck and the intermediate portion 47 of the hook. This also allows maximum utilization of the area between the leg 11 and the depending hook 45 with the result that the leg 11 lies closely adjacent to the rod 55. The use of a strong, resilient material, such as steel, is also advantageous to this end. With such material, the neck can be made relatively flat and thin, allowing the leg 11 to lie closely to the rod 55. The resiliency of the material allows the intermediate portion 47 to move outwardly and allow the hook apparatus to receive the rod 55, thereby causing a springing or holding effect to clasp the hook apparatus in position on the rod.

The resiliency of the material recommended above, is most desirable for a salient purpose of the support, namely adjustability. As shown in FIG. 9, the relatively flat neck portion 36 can be flexed away from leg 1.1. When this is done, the pressure points are the lower edge 34 of the body pressing against the back side of the leg and the clasps 32 and 32 pressing against the front side of the leg. Merely grasping the drapery support and drapery in an area adjacent the attachment apparatus 10 and pulling outwardly will cause the liexure illustrated. This will result because the hook apparatus 30 is held laterally, either by a rod 55 or a carrier 52. Assuming the carrier situation by way of illustration, the hook apparatus 30 will be held at the juncture 34; thus pulling on the attachment apparatus 10, or the drapery adjacent thereto, will result in the exure shown. At this point, it should be observed that the neck portion is of generally flat construction of smallest cross-section and will be the only portionto iiex.

The body is restrained by the clasps 32 and 32 and the arm and depending hook are of U-shaped cross-section for greater strength. When the neck is flexed as described supra, the latch 40 will be disengaged from the keeper 13 and the hook apparatus may be moved up or down in the direction of the arrow 26. The preferably ball-shaped end of the latch allows disengagement and reengagement to be readily performed.

The drapery may be readily adjusted in an upward direction in another relatively simple manner. By swinging the adjustable support slightly laterally and bringing the arm 42 into engagement with the bottom of the traverse rod 50, a slight upward pressure on the attachment apparatus will cause the latch 4t) to disengage and the attachment apparatus may be moved upwardly relative to the hook apparatus 30. The angle of the arm 42 relative to the leg 11, as described supra, is advantageous in this operation. As the hook apparatus flexes about the neck 36 and the latch 40 becomes disengaged, the upward extending arm 42 moves toward a more nearly horizontal position. lf the arm extended downwardly, there would be a tendency for the `hook apparatus to slip off the traverse rod 50 as this operation is performed. Therefore, the angle of the'arm is preferably such that when the latch is disengaged, the angle A between the arm and the leg above the arm is not more than 90.

While I have thus described a specific embodiment of the invention, this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable drapery support comprising a leg having keeper means for engaging and keeping a hook apparatus at selectively adjustable positions thereon, means on the leg for attachment to a drapery, and a hook apparatus including a body portion having upper and lower ends, said lower end contacting the back side of said leg and said upper end spaced therefrom, clasp means on the body for clasping the front side of said leg to hold the body in juxtaposition to the leg, a resilient neck portion attached to the upper end of the body and extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to lie in juxtaposition to the leg in one position, a latch on the neck portion and engagea-ble with the keeper means when the neck is in said one position, said neck portion being movable from said one position to a second position away from the leg whereby the latch is disengaged from the keeper means, an arm attached to the upper end of the neck portion and extending outwardly therefrom, and a depending hook attached to the outer end of said arm.

2. An adjustable drapery support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the keeper means are centrally located on said leg, and wherein the body portion has a relieved portion at the lower end thereof and said relieved portion spaced from the leg in the area of the keeper means.

3. An adjustable drapery hanger comprising an elongated leg member, means on the leg for attachment to a drapery, a plurality of keepers on the leg, and a steel hook apparatus comprising a substantially at body portion having upper and lower ends, said lower end contacting the leg and said upper end being spaced from the leg, clasp means attached to the upper end of the body portion adjacent the sides thereof and spaced above the lower end of the body portion for clasping the leg and slidably mounting the body thereon, a neck portion attached to the upper end of the body portion and extending upwardly therefrom, a latch on the neck intermediate the clasp means and the upper end of the neck, said latch having a shape approximately the shape of the keepers and a generally rounded end for selectively engaging one of said keepers, an arm of substantially U-shaped cross-section attached to the upper end of the neck and extending generally outwardly therefrom, and a depending hook of substantially U-shaped cross-section attached to the outer end of said arm and defining a juncture with said arm, the underside of the juncture being at a level above the latch.

4. An adjustable drapery support comprising a generally elongated leg portion having upper and lower ends and having spaced holes defining a plurality of keepers, means attached adjacent the lower end of the leg and extending upwardly in juxtaposition to the front side of the leg for attachment to a drapery, and a hook apparatus of substantially resilient material slidably mounted on the leg and including a body portion having its lower end touching the back side of the leg and its upper end spaced therefrom, a pair of clasps attached on each side of the body portion adjacent its upper end and extending around the side of the leg to lie contiguous to the front side of the leg and slidably mount the hook apparatus on the leg, a substantially flat neck attached to the upper end of the body portion and extending upwardly there from with a portion of the neck adjacent the upper end touching the leg in one position, a latch attached to`the neck at a point intermediate its upper and lower ends and shaped for engaging one of the keepers when the neck is in said one position to hold the hook apparatus in`position, said neck and said latch movable from said one position to a second position having the neck spaced from the leg and the latch disengaged from the keeper whereby the hook apparatus may be selectively moved up and down the leg, and hook means of generally U-shaped crosssection attached to the upper end of the neck.

5. An adjustable drapery support comprising a generally elongated leg portion having upper and lower ends and having spaced holes defining a plurality of keepers, means attached adjacent the lower end of the leg and extending upwardly in juxtaposition to the `front side of the leg for attachment to a drapery, and a hook apparatus of substantially resilient material slidably mounted on the leg and including a body portion having upper and lower ends, said lower end generally contiguous to the back side of the leg and said upper end spaced therefrom, said body portion having a relieved portion adjacent the lower end thereof and said relieved portion spaced from the leg, a pair of clasps attached on each side of the body portion adjacent its upper end and extending around the side of the leg to lie contiguous to the front side of the leg and slidably mount the hook apparatus on the leg, a substantially iiatheck attached to the upper end of the body portion and extending upwardly therefrom with a portion of the neck adjacent the upper end touching the leg in one position, a latch attached to the neck at a point intermediate its upper and lower ends and shaped for engaging one of the keepers when the neck is in said one position to hold the hook apparatus in position, said neck and said latch movable from said one position to a second position having the neck spaced from the leg and the latch disengaged from the keeper whereby the hook apparatus may be selectively moved up and down the leg, and hook means of generally U-shaped crosssection attached to the upper end of the neck.

6. An adjustable drapery support comprising a generally elongated leg portion having upper and lower ends and having spaced holes defining a plurality of keepers, means attached adjacent the lower end of the leg and extending upwardly in juxtaposition to the front side of the leg for attachment to a drapery, and a hook apparatus of resilient metal slidably mounted on the leg and including a body portion having upper and lower ends, said lower end generally contiguous to the back side of the leg and said upper end spaced therefrom, said body portion having a relieved portion adjacent the lower end thereof and said relieved portion spaced from the leg, a pair of clasps attached on each side of the body portion adjacent its upper end and extending around the side of the leg to lie contiguous to the front side of the leg and slidably mount the hook apparatus on the leg, a substantially frat neck attached to the upper end of the body portion and extending upwardly therefrom with a portion of the neck adjacent the upper end touching the leg in one position, a latch attached to the neck at a point intermediate its upper and lower ends and shaped for engaging one of the keepers when the neck is in said one position to hold the hook apparatus in position, said neck and said latch movable from said one position to a second position having the neck spaced from the leg and the latch disengaged from the keeper whereby the hook apparatus may be selectively movedV up and down the leg, an arm of generally U-shaped cross-section attached to the upper end of the neck and extending outwardly therefrom with the angle between said arm and the leg above the arm not more than 90 when the neck and latch are in said second position, and a depending hook of generally U-shaped cross-section attached to the outer end of the arm.

7. An adjustable drapery support comprising a drapery receiving member, keeper means on the receiving member for engaging and keeping a hook apparatus at selectively adjustable positions thereon, and a hook apparatus including a body portion having upper and lower ends, said lower end contacting the receiving member and said upper end being spaced from the receiving member, mounting means attached to the upper end of the body portion adjacent the sides thereof and spaced above the lower end of the body portion for slidably mounting the body portion on said receiving member, a substantially resilient neck portion attached to the body portion and extending upwardly therefrom, a latch n the neck intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof for selectively engaging the keeper means, an arm attached to the upper end of the neck and extending outwardly therefrom, and a depending hook attached to the outer end of said arm.

8. In an adjustable drapery support of the type including a leg having keeper means for engaging and keeping a hook apparatus at selectively adjustable positions thereon and means on the leg for attaching to a drapery, the improvement comprising a hook apparatus of substantially resilient material including a body portion having upper and lower ends, said lower end contacting the back side of the leg and said upper end being spaced from the leg, a pair of clasps attached to the body portion for clasping the front side of the leg and slidably mounting the body portion on said leg, a resilient neck portion attached to the upper end of the body portion and extending upwardly therefrom and generally contiguous in one position to the back side of said leg, a latch on the neck portion for engaging the keeper means in one position, said neck portion being movable from said one position to a second position away from the leg whereby the latch is disengaged from the keeper means, an arm attached to the upper end of the body portion and extending generally outwardly therefrom, and a depending hook attached to the outer end of the arm.

9. In an adjustable drapery support of the type including a generally elongated leg portion having upper and lower ends and having spaced holes dening a plurality of keepers, means attached adjacent the lower end of the leg and extending upwardly in juxtaposition to the front side of the leg for attachment to a drapery, the improvement comprising: a steel hook apparatus mounted on the leg and including a substantially flat body portion having upper and lower ends in juxtaposition to the back side of the leg, clasp means attached to the sides of the body portion adjacent the upper end thereof and spaced from the lower end of the body portion for clasping the leg and slidably mounting the body portion thereon, va substantially liat, resilient neck portion attached to the upper end of the body portion and extending upwardly therefrom, latch means on the neck portion for engaging one of the keepers and hol-ding the hook apparatus in position, said neck portion so constructed and arranged that at least a portion thereof adjacent the latch means is contiguous to the back side of the leg when the latch means is engaged to a keeper, said neck portion movable from said engaged position so that the latch means is disengageable from the keeper whereby the hook apparatus may lbe slidably 4moved on the leg, an outwardly extending arm of substantially U-shaped cross-section attached to the upper end of the neck portion and with the angle between said arm and the leg above the arm not more than when the latch means is disengaged from the keeper, and a depending hook of substantially U- shaped cross-section attached to the outer end of the arm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,405 12/1912 Giles 24-86 2,817,889 12/1957 Kalal et al. 24-86 2,901,795 9/ 1959 Graber. 2,931,612 4/1960 Graber 248--214 2,941,592 6/1960l Schwartz et al. 160-348 2,978,735 4/1961 Petzal 24-84 3,021,552 2/1962 Perlmutter 16--87.4 3,114,186 12/1963 Olsen 24-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,443 1898 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Examiner. 

7. AN ADJUSTABLE DRAPERY SUPPORT COMPRISING A DRAPERY RECEIVING MEMBER, KEEPER MEANS ON THE RECEIVING MEMBER FOR ENGAGING AND KEEPING A HOOK APPARATUS AT SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLE POSITIONS THEREON, AND A HOOK APPARATUS INCLUDING A BODY PORTION HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, SAID LOWER END CONTACTING THE RECEIVING MEMBER, UPPER END BEING SPACED FROM THE RECEIVING MEMBER, MOUNTING MEANS ATTACHED TO THE UPPER END OF THE BODY PORTION ADJACENT THE SIDES THEREOF AND SPACED ABOVE THE LOWER END OF THE BODY PORTION FOR SLIDABLY MOUNTING THE BODY PORTION ON SAID RECEIVING MEMBER, A SUBSTANTIALLY RESILIENT NECK PORTION ATTACHED TO THE BODY PORTION AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A LATCH ON THE NECK INTERMEDIATE THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS THEREOF FOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGING THE KEEPER MEANS, AN ARM ATTACHED TO THE UPPER END OF THE NECK AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, AND A DEPENDING HOOK ATTACHED TO THE OUTER END OF SAID ARM. 